Carton feeding mechanism



March 14, 1950 I H. F. CONSER CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 5, 1946 March 14, 1950 H. F. c'oNsER 2,500,804

CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1946 s sheets-shes; 2

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' form manner in the magazine.

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM Hugh F. Conser, Detroit,Mich., assignor to Shedd-Bartush Foods, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,193

2 Claims. 1

. articles in a magazine; and the present invention constitutes an'improvement over the mechanism "for the same purpose incorporated in theCarton folding machine disclosed in applicant's co-pending application,Serial Number 593,639, filed May 14, 1945.

In many types of machines, including those employed in folding, forming,or filling cardboard containers, it is customary to supply the machinewith a stack of flat, folded cardboard boxes or box blanks. This stackis usually placed in a suitable magazine and means are provided forfeeding the blanks one at a time from the magazine tothe portions of themachine which perform'subsequent operations thereon. In order to insuresuccessful operation of the machine, the feeding mechanism must operatepositively and successfully to feed a box blank on each cycle ofoperation without missing a blank or injuring any of the blanks in themagazine. Prior mechanisms employed for this purpose, including thatdisclosed in the above mentioned application, perform this function in agenerally satisfactory manner so long as the blanks are fairly flat anduniform in character. However, occasionally during shipment of boxblanks they become distorted and hence do not lie either flat or in auni- As a result, the feeding mechanism occasionally misses or destroysa blank, thus interrupting the cycle of operation of the machine.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention toprovide an improved form of feeding mechanism which will operatepositively without injury to the blanks regardless of whether or not theblanks are perfectly flat or are somewhat distorted when they are placedin the magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the abovementioned type which is peculiarly suited for use on the type of flat,folded box blanks in which four sides of the box are permanently Joinedtogether at their edges to form a collapsible parallelepiped with endclosure flaps secured to the ends of the four side walls. One typicalbox of this type is disclosed more fully in applicant's above mentionedapplication,

Another object of the invention is to provide a box blank feedingmechanism of the type mentioned which is also effective to open up orsquare the blank as it is delivered from the magazine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, which include theprovision of a box blank feeding mechanism which is simple and rugged inconstruction and foolproof in operation 'will become apparent from thefollowing specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of that portion of a box blankfolding machine incorporating the feeding mechanism of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on'the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5, 6 and 'l are fragmentary views showing the condition of a boxblank during three suc cessive stages in its removal from the magazine.

I Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1 and 2, thepresent invention is shown incorporated in a machine having a frame workgenerally indicated at l which may be of any suitable construction, theparticular machine illustrated being a portion of the complete box blankfolding machine disclosed in applicant's above mentioned co-pendingapplication. That machine is effective to extract folded box blanks oneat a time from a magazine, square them and close the end closure flapsat one end of the box preparatory to filling. Since the presentinvention relates only to the mechanism for feeding box blanks one at atime from the magazine and squaring them, the remaining portions of themachine are not illustrated. It is understood, however, that they may beof any desired construction and may perform any desired operations uponthe squared blank.

The frame work 1 includes a pair of parallel channel irons 2, whichsupport in any desired manner a table or top fioor constructionincluding a pair of horizontal plates 3 and 4, which are spaced apart attheir inner edges to receive a reciprocable slide, indicated generallyat 5. The slide 5 is made up of a top bar 6 and underlying bar I. Theedges of the latter bar project beyond those of the top bar 6 and intorecesses defined by a pair of longitudinal angle irons 8 and 9,

the plates 3 and 4 in the manner best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Themagazine is constructed in such a manner as to support 'a vertical stackof box blanks. It comprises a pair of side walls I3 and I4 which areillustrated as of lattice construction and a pair of side wall plates I5and I6. Plate I6 completely closes one side wall of the magazine exceptfor a narrow vertical slot I1 which permits passage of the carton blankdischarging hook hereinafter described. The plate I5 terminates at alower edge I8, located a suflicient distance above the plates 3 and 4 topermit passage of a squared or substantially squared box blank.

An elongated strip I9, of sheet metal or the like, extends along thefull width of the wall I3 at the lowermost end of the magazine. Thestrip I3 slopes upwardly at an angle from the plate 4, as best shown inFigure 4, and its upper edge is bent horizontally at 20 to form ahorizontal ledge extending the full width of the wall I3 and spacedabove the plate 4. The opposite edge of the strip I9 is bent inwardly toform a flange 2| which rests directly upon and may be fastened in anysuitable manner to the plate 4. In the region beyond the magazine, tothe left as viewed in Figure 3, the strip I9 is bent at the fold lines22 and 23 to form a vertically extending section 24 which is connectedto the inclined section by an intermediate triangular section. Thevertical section 24 is preferably made approximately the same height asthat of the squared box blank, as best shown in Figure '1, and the upperedge of the section 24 is bent inwardly to form a flange 25 to retainthe squared box blank against upward displacement. The right-hand end ofthe flange 25 is bent upwardly at 26 to insure entry of the squaredblanks beneath the flange.

As best shown-in Figure 4, the ledge 2|! formed within the magazine bythe strip I9 engages the under side of one edge of the lowermost boxblank in the magazine and thus assists in holding the stack of blanks inelevated position in the magazine. In order to prevent dropping of theopposite edge, the magazine adjacent the shelf 20 is made of less widththan the width of the box blank with the result that the blanks extendacross the magazine at an acute angle to the walls thereof and bearagainst the opposite side of the magazine, in the manner shown in Figure4. The entire magazine may be made of less width than the box blanks, ifdesired. However, as shown in the drawings, the main body of themagazine is of a width equal to that of the flat box blanks but thelower portion is reduced in width by a plate 21 which has a lowervertically extending portion 28 which extends to approximately theheight of the shelf 20 and an outwardly sloping upper section 29, theupper edge of which merges with the side wall I4 of the magazine. Whileonly one box blank is illustrated in Figure 4, it will be understoodthat a plurality of additional blanks will be stacked above the blankthere illustrated.

Each blank comprises four side walls 30, 3|, 32 and 33 permanentlyjoined at their edges to each other. The ends of the side walls areprovided with any suitable form of end closure flaps. For purposes ofthe present invention, however, it is only necessary to mention the endclosure flap 34, which is formed on side wall 30. In order to permit useof the box blanks in the mechanism of the present invention, the flap 34must have a portion which is exposed when the blank is viewed from theunder side of the stack. This may be achieved by providing a flap on thewall 32 which is shorter than the flap 34 or by cutting away one cornerof the flap on the side wall 32 adjacent the juncture of that side wallwith the side wall 33.

The mechanism for engaging and discharging the box blanks from themagazine comprises a generally hooked-shaped member 35 having a longtapered point 36, the extremity of which is bent slightly upward at 31.The point 36, as best shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is in the'formof a fiat vertical sheet provided with a horizontal flange 38 at itslower edge, which flange likewise tapers in width toward the point. Afeed dog 39 is fixed to the under side of horizontal flange 38 adjacentthe rear end of the point 36.

The main body of the hook 35 comprises a relatively large flat sheet 40,the major portion of which lies below plate 4; and the latter plate isprovided with a slot 4| through which the hook projects. A pair of stubshafts 42 and 43 are fixed to the plate 4|! and serve as journals for apair of spool type rollers 44 and 45 which fit within slots 46 and 41respectively, formed in a vertical plate 48. The plate 48 is fixed inany desired manner in spaced relation to the adjacent channel iron 2, asbest shown in Figure 4. As a result of this construction, the slottedplate 48 and the rollers 44 and 45 support the hook 35 in the positionshown in'the drawings and guide it for movement in a path determined bythe form of the slots 46 and 41. The slot 4| may also assist in holdingthe hook in a vertical plane.

Means are provided for reciprocating the hook between the solid lineposition shown in Figure 3 and the dotted line position shown in thesame figure. This means comprises a link 49 which is pivoted at one endon an extension of the shaft 43 and at the other end to the upper end ofa lever 50. The lever 50 is pivoted at 5| to a stationary portion of themachine and carries a roller 52 indicated in dotted lines in Figure l,which fits within a groove 53 formed in the face of an eccentric disk54. The disk 54 is fixed to a shaft 55 which is rotated by means of abelt 55 from any suitable source of power, not shown. Rotation of thedisk 54 oscillates the lever 50 about the pivot 5| and thus effectsreciprocation of the hook 35 between the limit positions illustrated inFigure 3.

In order to permit removal of the hook 35 from the machine for repair orreplacement, the slots 46 and 41 are extended rearwardlybeyond therearward limit positions of the spools 44 and 45, and are provided withenlarged extremities 51 and 58 through which the spools may be withdrawnby lateral movement. In order to permit such movement, the rear end ofthe slot 4| is widened at 59, as best shown in Figure 2. It will beunderstood that such removal of the hook 35 may be eifected only afterit is disconnected from the lever 58 or link 49.

The shape of the slots 46 and 41 is such that on forward movement of thehook from the position shown in solid lines of Figure 3, the hooktravels in a horizontal path until its point has entered approximatelyhalf way into the box blank. Such entry of the hook into the box blankbetween the walls 30 and 32 is insured by reason of the fact that in thefully retracted position, the hook has cleared the lower side wall 32and any tab which may be carried on the end of that wall and has engagedand slightly lifted the fiap 34 on the wall 30. The slight upwarddeflection of the point of the hook provides further assurance that thepoint will enter between the walls 30 and 32. After the hook has enteredapproximately half way into the carbon, the hook will on furtheradvancing movement begin to lower bodily with respect to the plates 3and 4 due to the downward deflection of the slots 46 and 41. By the timethe hook has projected fully into the box blank and just before the dog39 on the hook engages the rear edge of the side wall 32 of the boxblank or a flap on wall 32, the hook will have completed its downwardmovement andthe horizontal flange 33 of the hook will lie in a planespaced above the top surface of the plates 3 and 4 by an amount slightlyin excess of the thickness of the box blank material, thus holding theside wall 32 of the blank against the plates 3 and 4.

As best shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, entry of the hook into the cartonblanks spreads the walls 30 and 32 of the blank apart, thus partiallysquaring the blank, as best shown in Figure 5. This squaring of theblank decreases the distance between that edge of the blank which iscommon to side walls 30 and 33 and that edge which is common to the sidewalls 3| and 32. v

This reduction of the distance between these two edges permits thelatter edge to slide progressively down the wrface of plate 21 until itoccupies a position at the same elevation, or lower, than ledge 20. Theparts are so arranged that the downward movement of the hook iscorrelated with the rate at which the blank may be lowered as a resultof the squaring operation. The final lowering movement further squaresthe carton blank and removes it from the ledge 20. It will be noted thatin the position illustrated in Figure 6, the wall 33 of the blank ishearing against the strip l9. This is the position which the partsoccupy immediately before engagement of the carton blank by the dog 39.

Thereafter, as the hook continues to advance, it ejects the carton blankbeneath the lower edge l8 of the magazine wall l5. As the blank movesaway from its position beneath the magazine, the wall 33 of the blankrides along the strip I9. Consequently, it is elevated from the positionshown in Figure 6 to the fully squared position shown in Figure '7. Theposition of the parts illustrated in Figure 7 corresponds to the extremeadvance position of the hook 35, which position is indicated by dottedlines in Figure 3. It will be noted that during the movement of thecarton from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown inFigure 7, the horizontal flange 38 of the hook holds the bottom wall 32of the blank against the top surface of plates 3 and 4.

Immediately upon completion of the forward movement, the hook 35 isretracted by the eccentric disk 54 and the connecting lever '50 and linkleaving the fully squared carton blank in position along side of thevertical section 24 of the strip l9. During such initial retraction, thehook passes freely beneath the lowermost carton blank inthe magazine,which blank is then occupying the position illustrated in Figure 4. Thefinal return movement raises the hook beneath the blank and carries thepoint of the hook beyond the bottom wall 32 and into engagement with theflap 34, in the manner indicated in Figure 3, in which position it isready to begin the next advance movement.

The lever 50, which effects reciprocation of the hook 35, alsosimultaneously reciprocates the I slide by reason of a link 33 whichconnects the lever with a bracket 8| fixed to the under side of the barThe slide carries a feed do: 62 which engages the previously ejected andsquared carton blank at the same time that the dog 39 on hook 35 engagesa carton blank within the magazine. Consequently, as the slide 5 and thehook 35 moveforward together, thepreviously ejected and squared cartonblank is advanced by the dog 62 ahead of the blank which is beingadvanced by the hook. The dog 62 may advance the squared cartons to anysuitable instrumentality, such as the end closure mechanism disclosed insaid co-pending application. During such advance, the carbon is guidedby the previously mentioned vertical section 24 of the strip l9 whichengages one side of the squared carton, and an upstanding wall 33mounted on the plate 3, which engages the opposite side wall of thecarton.

It ;will be observed that the mechanism is effective to eject a cartonfrom the magazine and fully square it in a single movement. Since thepoint of the hook is located well above the normal plane of the lowerwall 32 of the blank when the hook is fully retracted, itmust pass abovethat wall on subsequent advance regardless of irregularities in the formof the lower wall. Since, in its fully retractedposition, the hookengages and elevates a flap on the top wall 30 of the blank, it must beguided beneath the top wall on subsequent advance. Thus entry of thehook into the lowermost blank is positively insured and it isunnecessary 'to rely upon accurate positioning of the opening in theblank in the path of movement of the point of the hook. While thisfeature of the invention is peculiarly suited to the ejection of boxblanks of the type illustrated, it is applicable to any flat blankhaving one folded edge to provide a double thickness between which thepointof the hook may enter.

Another important feature resides in the fact that the cartons aremoveddownwardly out of contact with the remaining cartons in the stackbefore they are advanced, with the result that there is no danger thatthe hook will injure the oil remaining cartons in the stack when itejects a carton or makes its return movement. An important factor inthis connection is the support of the stack of blanks in elevatedposition by engagement of two opposite edges and the withdrawal of thelowermost blank by a distortion or change in its form.

The above described features are not limited in their application tocartons of the type illustrated and may be employed when no subsequentsquaring operation is required. However, a further feature of theinvention resides in the fact that the carton feeding means, whenapplied to the illustrated type of blanks, also squares the cartonblanks simultaneously with their ejection. Moreover, the initialsquaring movement efiects release of the lowermost blank from themagazine by reducing the overall width of the blank.

The particular form'of mechanism illustrated and described performs amajor portion of the box squaring function during the downward movementof the box blank from the stack in the magazine, and completes thesquaring opereration during subsequent advance movement of the partiallysquared blank. It will be appreciated, however, that the sloping platel9 may be positioned vertically with the result that the 1 completesquaring operation will occur during the downward movement, if desired.

While only one form of the invention is illustrated and describedherein, it will be apparent that variations in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of the parts may be' indulged in withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for feeding flat folded box blanks of the type inwhich four sides of the box are joined to each other to form acollapsible parallelepiped, a magazine for holding a stack of said flatfolded blanks, means defining a ledge engageable with the exposed faceadjacent one edge of the blank at one end of said stack to limit endwisemovement of said stack of blanks, the wall of said magazine oppositesaid ledge being spaced from the wall adjacent said ledge by slightlyless than the width of the flat blank whereby said end blank extendsacross said magazine i1 contact with said walls at an acute angle tosaid walls such that the fiat blanks cannot pass said ledge, areciprocating pointed blade having progressively increasing dimensionsin a direc-' tion at right angles to the plane of the folded blanks,means for reciprocating said blade to cause it to enter the endmostblank in the stack and thereby open the blank and reduce its width sothat it will pass said ledge, and means for hold- 1 ing the opened blankagainst the wall opposite said ledge.

2. In a mechanism for feeding flat folded box blanks of the type inwhich four sides of the box 1 are joined to each other to form acollapsible parallelepiped, a magazine for holding a vertical stack ofsaid flat folded blanks, said magazine having a restricted portionadjacent its lower end through which the fiat folded blanks cannot pass,and blank dischargingmechanism including a, blade of progressivelyincreasing dimensions at right angles to the plane of the folded blanks,and means to reciprocate said blade to enter one end of the blank at thelower end of said stack' and open the blank sufilciently to permit it topass said restriction and move the blank downwardly past saidrestriction, said means being effective thereafter by a continuation ofsaid entering movement to move said blade and blank horizontally in adirection parallel to the joining edges of said four sides of the boxblank for feeding said blanks to an associated conveyor mechanism, andstationary means engageable with the blank for completing the openingthereof during said last mentioned movement.

HUGH F. CONSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS

